Campbellton, NB: \u00a0A female juror was dismissed from the criminal negligence trial of Jean-Claude Savoie in\u00a0the deaths of two young New Brunswick brothers killed by a python. \u00a0No reasons were given for the dismissal, leaving\u00a0eleven to hear the case. \u00a0The judge said the details of the juror’s discharge will remain sealed until the jury begins deliberations.<\/p>\n
The judge\u00a0told the court: \u201cJuror number 335, after a lengthy hearing, has been relieved of her duties to continue as a member of this jury, and on the recommendation of counsel and the order of the court, juror number 335 was discharged late this morning,\u201d<\/p>\n
To help reduce the number of witnesses and the length of a trial, the lawyers then entered two admission of facts:<\/p>\n
\u201cJean-Claude Savoie admits the following facts: \u00a0On or about Aug, 5, 2013, a snake that he had in his custody, namely an African rock python, was able to escape from an enclosure located in his residence located at 2 Pleasant Street, Campbellton \u2026 through a ventilation pipe. \u00a0That said snake thus got access to the living room of said residence where Connor Barthe and Noah Barthe were sleeping. \u00a0That said snake then proceeded to attack both Connor Barthe and Noah Barthe and cause their death by asphyxiation.\u201d<\/p>\n
The second document was an admission that in 2002, the Canadian Wildlife Service took custody of a juvenile African rock python in Saint John. \u00a0The CWS approached Savoie, and he took\u00a0possession of the snake.<\/p>\n
Proceedings were adjourned and will resume Monday when the court will hear from Bob Johnson, a former curator of reptiles and amphibians at the Toronto Zoo.<\/p>\n
The case is expected to go to the jury next week.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"